Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-06-08
SIGHTS SEEN IN CUBA.
Notes of an Observer Who Accompa-
MED the Senatorial Party.

1
Upon the second day of our stay in
Havana the senators were invited to the
home of the captain general, the invita-
ton being sent through the American
consul, Gen. Williams. In accordance
with the invitation, the party of ''dis-
tiguidos viajeros AmericanoS" took
carriages about midday for the home of
the great dignitary in the suburbs.
We made funny string of dilapida-
ted victorias, multitudinOusly patched
and mended, and measly little horses,
which, in appearance, beat the mule in
sorrowful abstraction and utter hope
lessness. We went in helter skelter
way up the Prado, past the Campo
Marie, and out the Paseo TacOn TO the
noted gardens and country house Of the
Spanish Ruler.
In the tropical gardens ara worlds of
fruits and vegetables, many of which
we never see in the north. Why, to see
them once leaves your mouth a little
like that of hungry dog eyeing for
hidden bone. In the same gardens
there may be cocoanuts, dates, lemons,
oranges, lines, sappadillos, zapotas,
mammees, pomegranates, bread fruit,
bananas, tamarinds, pine aples, man
goes. alligator pears, star apples, grape
fruit, guava, custard apples, yams, rose
apples, citrons, and so on in an endless
list.
The workmen were negroes and a
few coolies, slaves or eX-slaves, and
some were nearly naked and all naked to
the waist. In the workshops l again
observed a curious thing, and that IS
the tendency to make all motions away
from the body. They sharpen pencils,
whittle, hew and saw never inward or
toward the body. 1t looks odd to see
them with the stick fixed in position
and the saw held perpendicular in front
of it with its back TO the body, and thus
raised up and down. When person
wishes to beckon to another, lie holds
up his hand with palm outward, gives
sharp ''p-s-s-t," which is the universal
hailing signal in Cuba, and then waves
his hand Outwardly in exactly the oppO-
site motion to what he would make.
While we gathered at the stables the
captains generals daughter had her
splendid saddle horse, of pure Andalu-
sian blood and brought over from her
home, brought out and shown off for US,
while groom hung on to him desper-
,tely to keep him down out Of the
clouds.
Finally we returned to the house and
proceeded informally to the dining
room, where all were seated around
single long table except the captain
general himself, who remained standing
behind his daughters chair during the
meal. Our party was good deal EN-
barrassed by this, for, as we just hlled
the chairs, it looked as though we had
crowded out our exalted host.
We then concluded that it was
through point Of etiquette or ceremony
that he did not sit at table with US. 80
anxious were we that one of our ladies
asked his daughter, and she explained
that at such affairs her father rarely
seated himself. He like to stand and
overlook the table, and see that the SER
wants neglected no one. He never ate
at such entertainments, as he has
weak stomach for indulgenees, and
takes only very plain and simple food
regularly.
The servants were in gorgeous livery;
the wine was superb, so that some OF
the connoisseurs of our party felt their
eyes sparkle, and the refreshments SIM
pie and plentiful.
When it came to the champagne the
captain general made speech, which
Was translated by the consul general, |
and Mr.. Sherman responded, the consul
general again translating, and all drank |
standing. The speeches were the usual \
exchanges of compliments
and good wishes, but the consul general
told us afterward that the captain gen.
eral spoke with more warmth and
evident sincerity than was usual with
him on such occasions.
Before We left an invitation was
given to come again in the evening,
when there would be music and dancing.
/ large number of our party accepted,
md our ladies were much admired, and
made a great impression. The Span
ards were greatly pleased at the ladies
coming and dancing, and our young
nan showed some of the Senoritas 4
hing or two in waltzing.
The more we saw of Cuban women
he more unqualifedly we acknowledged
heir wonderful beauty. We hardly
aw a homely woman in Havana, and
We saw some beautiful beyond descrip-
ion. There is a sameneSs about the
,eauty that might in the collective grow
| little monotonous, but an individual
Instance is Incompatible.
Even If the face is not otherwise fine
he lustrous eyes can light up and
,lorify it, and the eyes of the Cuban
women are like stars Cf the summer
light, and the velvety black masses of
lair bound about their heads and thrust
through with gold bodkin, after Gus
ON immemorial in old Spain, truly
crown of glory.
The dark eyes and alluring lips full
md rich, the sly grace of the fan OF
cigarette, the dainty, arched feet, with
,old embroidered black stockings, and
hat most beautiful of all ornaments foI
ne head, the mantilla, have often been
in song and story and poetry,
,ut they never received any more praise
IT admiration than they deserved.